Sebastian Junger is a writer/journalist/director who most famously wrote the novel The Perfect Storm, which became a worldwide smash hit at the box office when adapted into a movie. Sebastian Junger teamed with film-maker Tim Hetherington on an assignment in Afghanistan for Vanity Fair magazine and the result is the new documentary film “Restrepo,” which is an apoliticial and first hand account of what war is really like. It’s a must see film! You can read my review here. I attended the New York premiere of “Restrepo” and I was fortunate enough to meet both film makers and they were extremely nice. Thanks guys. I am doing my part in spreading the word to the masses to see this excellent film!

Tim Hetherington and G

“Restrepo” is released in selected theaters on July 2, 2010. Go see it!!!

Restrepo. A film by Tim Heatherington and Sebastian Junger. In theaters July 2, 2010.

On June 20, 2010 at the Walter Reade Theater in New York, I attended the premiere of the documentary “Restrepo.” The film chronicles the 15 month deployment of a platoon of US soldiers in Afghanistan’s Korengal Valley. The footage, shot literally in the middle of cross-fire, is a 90 minute journey that is definitely the most accurate portrayal of what actually happens in war that you will ever see. Directors Tim Hetherington and Sebastian Junger put their lives on the line to obtain this first hand footage and though it’s extremely sobering, it’s a film that everyone should see.

Restrepo is the name of the outpost a group of 15 soldiers were stationed at in one of the most dangerous places on earth and it was named for a fallen soldier. Watching footage of these soldiers getting shot at, strategizing their next plan of attack, missing their families, seeing how soldiers live in a war zone, becoming a brotherhood and dealing with those who were lost in battle will give you so much to think about long after the film is over. The film has already won the Best Documentary Award at the Sundance Film Festival, and though it is not an easy film to watch, it is a necessary film to see.

After the film was over, we were treated to a question and answer session with film-makers Tim Hetherington and Sebastian Junger and they discussed the making of this movie. Some of the stuff that did not make it into the film were the graphic depictions of people being killed. I think it’s admirable that they did not resort to shock value to sell tickets as there are so many scenes that will leave you on the edge of your seat as you wait to see whether or not this platoon will make it out alive. “Restrepo” is being released in select theaters on July 2, 2010.